Sign-attaching device.



H. s. TANNER.

SIGN ATTACHING DEVICE.

(Application filed Oct. 25, 1900.

Patented Feb. 19, I90l.

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

No. 668,547. Patented Feb. I9, l90l. H, s. TANNER.

SIGN ATTAGHING DEVICE.

(Application filed Oct. 25, 1900.) (No Model.)

WAENT trio's.

HENRY S. TAFTNER, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

SlGN-ATTACHING DEVICE.

SPEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 668,547, datedFebruary 19, 1901.

Application filed October 25. 1900. Serial No. 34,373. (No model.)

T0 at 1071 0112, it may concern.-

Be it known that l,1-IENRY S. TANNER, acitizen of the United States,residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michi gan, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Sign-Attaching Devices, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to a sign-attaching device, and is especiallydesigned for placing and holding signs, bill-posters, and the like,-whether flexible, such as cloth or muslin signs, or rigid signs, such astin or cardboard, in position to be tacked to a bill-board, high fence,or the like at an elevation out of ordif nary reach; and it has for itsobject to pro-, vide a simple, light, and efficient device of thecharacter described by means of which the sign may be placed inposition, preparatory to tacking, with ease and despatch and in aconvenient and accurate manner, that may be adjusted to signs ofdifferent sizes, that may be readily detached from the sign after thelatter has been tacked in place, and that shall be extremely light andportable, so that the same may be conveniently carried from place toplace by the operator.

To this end my invention consists in the features and in theconstruction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafterdescribed, and particularly pointed out in the claims following thedescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification,wherein Figure 1 is a View in elevation of myimproved device, showing a cloth sign in place thereon in readiness tobe tacked to a billboard or other support. Fig. 2 is a similar viewshowing the device folded up. Fig. 3 is a vertical central sectionalView. Fig. 4: is a detail sectional view of one of the impalingpins.Fig. 5 is a detail view showing one of the springs for holding a rigidsign, and Fig. 6 is a view of the telescopic handle.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates a tubular standardwhichis designed to be fitted atits lower end in a handle of anysuitable construction, the preferred form of handle being hereinafterdescribed. Fitted in the standard 1 and adapted to freely move up anddown therein is a rod 2. On the upper end of the standard 1 is fixed a T3,

through which the rod 2 loosely plays, and fixed on the upper end ofsaid rod is a corresponding T 4, in the upper end of which is fixed arod or tubular extension 5.

The numeral 6 indicates an extensible frame consisting of a system oflazy-tongs formed of a number of pivoted levers 7 in a well-known mannerand adapted to be extended and contracted, as usual. The central levers'7 and 7 of the lazy-tongs are pivotally connected to the Ts 3 and 4, asat 8 and 9, and as the T 3 is stationary and the T 4: is fixed on therod 2 the latter Will play up and down in the tubular standard as thelazytongs are opened and closed to permit of the extension andcontraction of the latter. Loosely arranged on the tubular standard is asleeve 10, having fixed on its upper end a yoke 11, provided with twolaterally and oppositely projecting arms 12, and pivoted to the ends ofsaid arms are two rods 13, the free ends of which loosely pass throughposts 14. The posts 14: are similar in construction to the ordinary andWell-known electrical bindingposts, and each forms the central pivot oftwo of the levers 7 of the lazy-tongs. The rods 13 are held againstmovement in said posts by set-screws 15 in a usual manner. It will beevident that if the yoke 11 be moved upward on the standard the rods orarms 13 will be spread apart, and hence the lazy-tongs will be opened orextended, and, conversely, if the yoke be drawn down on the standard therods or arms will be drawn together or toward each other and thelazy-tongs will be closed or contracted. During such operations the rod2 will play up and down in the tubular standard 1, as before explained.The pivots operating to connect together the intersecting ends of theoutermost levers 7 of the lazytongs are provided with knobs 16, by meansof which the lazy-tongs may be opened and closed.

Loosely arranged on the rod 2 is a sleeve 17, on the lower end of whichis fixed a yoke 18, provided with laterally and oppositely projectingarms 18*, and to the ends of the arms l8 are pivotally attached tubulararms 19, in each of which is fitted to loosely slide a rod 20, said rodspassing through posts 21, similar to the posts 14 before referred to,and

are studs 23, fitted on which is a connecting rod 24, which is held inplace thereon by suitable Washers and nuts 25 the nuts being preferablyin the form of knobs, as shown.-

The rod 24 may consist of a hollow tube or a flat plate, if preferred,its function being to rigidly connect together the two yokes 11 and 18,whereby when the lower yoke 11 is raised or lowered to open or close thelazy-tongs the upper yoke 18 will also be raised and lowered to spreadapart and draw together the arms 19 20. Arranged on the stud 23, carriedby the yoke 18 on the opposite sides of the connecting-rod 24, so as tofreely turn on said stud, are two pulleys 25 and 26, and attached to theposts 14 are theends of cords or light cables 27, that are passed,respectively, over the pulleys 25 and 26 and at their other ends arejoined to a single cord or cable 28 of suitable length and provided atits lower end with a pull or handle 29 for the purpose hereinafterexplained.

At the four corners of theextensible frame, or, in other words, on thefree ends of the outermost levers 7 of the lazy-tongs, arearrangedprongs or pins constructed and arranged as follows: In the free end ofeach of the outermost levers 7 of the lazy-tongs is formed a perforationthrough which is passed the threaded shank 30 of a small post 31 and isfirmly secured therein by a nut 32. To the end of said post is pivotedone end of a socket 33, into which is screwed a pin 34, said pin beingheld in place in the socket by a jamnut 35. As shown, the socketscarrying the pins may be turned outward, so asto cause the pins toproject laterally in opposite directions, or they .may be turned inwardto cause the pins to project toward each other to protect the pins whenthe device is not in use and prevent them from catching in the clothingof the operator and otherarticles. Screwed on the upper end of the rodor tubular extension 11 of the rod 2 is an elbow 36, in which is screweda socket 37, carrying a pin 38, similar to the sockets and pins beforereferred to, the pin 38 being bent or inclined upward slightly for thepurpose hereinafter made apparent. In its operative position the elbowis turned so as to cause the pin 38 to project rearward ly at a rightangle to the extensibleframe or lazy-tongs; but when the device is notin use the elbow is turned so as to cause the pin 38 to lie in the sameplaneas the inwardly-turned pins 34.

In practice the tubular standard 1 will be inserted in the end of a poleor handle of suitable length and construction, as before stated. Letitbe assumed thataflexible sign or poster, as of cloth or muslin, forexample, is to be tacked up in place on a high wall, bill-board,

or other inaccessible place. The extensible frame or lazy-tongs willthenbe opened or extended to approximately the required length toreceive the flexible sign and the pins 34 turned outward and the pin 38rearwardly. ,The four corners of theflexible sign are next impaled'onthe pins 34 by sticking the latter through the cloth, and the upper edgeof the latter at its center is impaled on the pin 38, when by graspingthe knobs 16 in his hands the operator by drawing them apart extends oropens the-lazy-tongs as far as the cloth will permit, thereby stretchingthe cloth out smooth and holding it flat in readiness for tacking inplace. Bygrasping the handle or pole the operator canreadily lift thesign up to theplace it isintenrled to occupy. Then by means of along-handled magnetichammer adapted to hold a tack and which need notbe'here shownand described, as it forms no part of the presentinvention, he can quickly and easily tack the sign in place. After thesign has been tacked inplaee the operator grasps ,the pull or handle 29and draws down the cordsor cables 27, which pass over the guide-pulleys25 and 26, and by such .movement draws together the arms or rods 13,

thereby contracting or closing the lazy-tongs, as before described, andWithdrawingthepins 34 from the sign. Then by lowering the devicethe pin38 is likewise withdrawn, leaving the sign securely tacked in place. By

means of the set-screws 15 the arms or rods 13 may be connected atdifferent points to the lazy-tongs, whereby they may be adjusted toextend the lazy-tongs to a greater or less extent to accommodate signsof different sizes. The arms 19 and 20 follow the movements of the arms13, but do not operate to open and close the lazy-tongs, the function ofsaid arm being tostiifen andbrace the lazy-tongs and hold the sameagainst the action of the wind in a strong breeze.

For holding rigid signs-sueh as signs formed of sheet metal, cardboard,and the likeI provide the following means: Attached to the rear sides oftwo of the levers 7 of ,the lazy-tongs are springs, each com prising afiat shank 39, attached to the lever 7 by the pivots of the latter andterminating at its upper end in a slightly-bowed portion 40, which atits extremity bears against the said lever. By attaching the spring tothe pivots of the levers in the manner shown the spring is preventedfrom turning, which it would be apt to do if it were secured to but oneof the pivots. When a rigid sign is to be tacked 'in place, theimpaling-pins before referred to are turned to their inoperativepositions and the lazy-tongs opened to the required distance. The loweredge .of the sign'is then slipped underneath the free ends 40 of thespringsor between the latter and the levers 7, to which they areattached. The sign is then raised to theposition in which it is to befixed and is tacked along its upper edge only, after which the implementis detached from the sign by withdrawing it vertically downward, causingit to slip from ofi the sign. The operation of tacking the latter inplace at all points may then be completed.

To the lower end of the connecting-rod 24 is attached a hook 41, andwhen the device is folded up for transportation the cords or cables maybe Wrapped back and forth about the studs 23 as cleats and their endshooked over the hook 41, thus preventing the cords or cables frombecomingtangled and conveniently disposing of the same.

While any suitable form of pole or handle may be employed for raisingand lowering the extensible frame, I prefer to construct the same asillustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings. Referring to said figu re, thenumeral 42 indicates a metallic tube of suitable length, preferablyclosed at its lower end by a plug 43 and having screwed on its upper enda reducer or flanged collar 44. Telescoped in said tube is another'tube45 of slightly less diameter and provided on its inner end with a collar46, which engages the flange of the reducer 44 when the tubes areextended and prevents the tube 45 from being entirely withdrawn from thetube 42. Formed in the tube 45, near its lower end, is a perforation 47,in which is adapted to be inserted a pin or key 48 when the tube iswithdrawn and prevent its telescoping in the tube 42. The key ispreferably attached to the handle bya chain 49, secured at its end tothe reducer 44. Telescoped in the tube 45 is a smaller tube 50, movablysecured therein in the same manner as the tube 45 and provided on itsupper end with a collar 51, in which is fitted a set-screw A splitcollar 53 is movably arranged on 52. the tube 50 and is clamped aboutsaid tube at any desired point by a thumb-screw 54. Said collar isadapted to rest on the upper end of the tube 45 and hold the tube 50extended any desired distance. By means of the telescopic pole or handledescribed the support for the extensible frame may be readily adjustedto the height or length most convenient for the work immediately in handand when not in use may be nested or collapsed in a compact formsuitable for transportation or storage.

I have described my improved sign-attaching device in its most approvedform; but it will be manifest that various modifications may be employedin the details of its construction without departing from the spirit ofmy invention.

Having described my invention, What I claim is-- 1. In a device of thecharacter described, the combination with an extensible frame, ofattachments carried by said frame for detachably connecting the latterto a sign, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with anextensible frame and a handle for raising the same, of means carried bysaid frame for holding the ends of a sign, means for extending saidframe, and means for contracting or folding up said frame, substantiallyas described.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with anextensible frame provided at its opposite ends with penetrating pins orprongs, and a handle for raising said frame, of means for contracting orfolding up said frame to retract the pins orprongs, substantially asdescribed.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination with anextensible frame provided at its opposite ends with penetrat ing pins orprongs pivotally attached to said frame whereby they may be turned backor reversed when not in use, and mounted on a handle, of means forcontracting or folding up saidframe to withdraw the pins or prongs fromthe frame, substantially as described.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination with anextensible frame and a handle for raising the same, of penetratingprongs or pins removably carried by the opposite ends of the frame, andmeans for contracting or folding up said frame, substantially asdescribed.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination with anextensible frame and a handle on which the frame is mounted, ofpenetrating prongs or pins carried by the opposite ends of the frame, aprong or pin projecting above the upper edge of said frame, and meansfor contracting or folding up the frame, substantially as described.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination with anextensible frame comprising lazy-tongs mounted on a handle, meanscarried by the ends of the lazy-tongs for grasping the ends of a sign,and means for contracting or folding up the lazytongs, substantially asdescribed.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination with anextensible frame comprising lazy-tongs mounted on a standard, meanscarried by the ends of the lazytongs for grasping the ends of a flexiblesign, and means for contracting or folding up the lazy-tongs to detachthe frame from the sign, substantially as described.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination with anextensible frame, of penetrating prongs or pins carried by the oppositeends of the frame, a prong 0r pin arranged to project transversely tosaid frame centrally above the upper edge of the latter and adapted tobe turned into parallelism with said frame, and means for contracting orfolding up the frame, substantially as described.

10. In a device of the character described, the combination with anextensible frame comprising lazy-tongs, of a tubular standard a yokesleeved on said standard,pivoted arms carried by said yoke and connectedat their ends to the lazy-tongs on opposite sides of the standard, andmeans for moving said yoke downwardly on the standard to contract theextensible frame, substantially as described.

11. In a device of the character described, the combination with anextensible frame comprising lazy-tongs, of a tubular standard, a yokesleeved on said standard, pivoted arms carried by said yoke andadjustably connected to the lazy-tongs on opposite sides of thestandards, and means for moving said yoke downwardly on the standard tocontract the extensible frame, substantially as described.

12. In a device of the character described, the combination with anextensible frame comprising lazy-tongs, of a tubularstandard, a yokesleeved on said standard, pivoted arms carried by said yoke, postspivotally arranged on the opposite end portions of the extensible framethrough which the ends of said arms pass, set-screws carried by saidposts and arranged to engage and hold said arms, and means forcontracting the frame, substan' tially as described.

13. In a device of the characterdescribed, the combination with anextensible frame comprising lazy-tongs, of a tubular standard, a rodslidablyarranged in said standard and connected at its upper end to thelazy-tongs, a yoke sleeved 011 said standard, pivoted arms carried bysaid yoke and connected at their ends to said extensible frame onopposite sides of the standard, and means for moving said yoke downwardon the standard to contract the extensible frame, substantially asdescribed.

14. In a device of the character described, the combination with anextensible frame comprising lazy-tongs, of a tubularstandard, a rodslidably arranged in said standard and connected at its upper end to thelazy-tongs, means for opening and closing the lazy-tongs, a yoke sleeved011 the said rod, tubular pivoted arms carried by said yoke, and rodsslidably arranged in said tubular arms and connected at their outer endsto the lazytongs, substantially as described.

15. In a device of the character described, the combination with anextensible frame comprising lazy-tongs, of a tubular standard, a rodslidablyarranged in said standard and connected to the lazy-tongs, alaterally-projecting pin mounted on the upper end of said rod, pinsarranged at the corners of said extensible frame, and means forextending and contracting said frame, substantially as described.

16. In a device of the character described, the combination with anextensible frame comprising lazytongs, of means carried by said framefor holding the ends of a sign, and knobs carried by the opposite endsof said frame, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.

17. In a device of the character described, the combination with anextensible frame, of springs attached to the end portions of the frameand loosely bearing, at their free ends on said frame, substantially asdescribed and for the purpose specified.

18. In a device of the character described, the combination with anextensible frame comprising lazy-tongs, of a tubular standard, a rodslidably arranged in said standard, yokes sleeved on said standard androd, pivoted arms carried by said yokes and connected at their ends tothe lazy-tongs, and a connecting-rod connecting said yokes,substantially as described.

19. In a device of the character described, the combination with anextensible frame comprising lazy-tongs, of a tubular standard, a rodslidably arranged in said standard, yokes sleeved on said standard androd, pivoted arms carried by said yokes, and connected at their ends tothe lazy-tongs, a*

connecting-rod connecting the said yokes, two guide-pulleys arranged onthe upper end of said connecting-rod, and cords or cables attached tothe opposite end portions of the lazy-tongs and passing over saidguide-pulleys, substantially as described.

20. In a device of the character described, the combination with anextensible frame, of attachments carried by said frame constructed todetachably connect the latter to a sign, and a telescopic handle inwhich said frame is adapted to be fitted, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

HENRY S. TANNER.

Witnesses:

FRANKLIN P. WHITE, HORACE W. AVERY.

